Appreciation for Lifted Hands

Day 40: (Exodus 17-18, Psalm 72, Mark 5)

In Exodus 17:12-13 (NLT), it says, “Moses’ arms soon became so tired he could no longer hold them up. So Aaron and Hur found a stone for him to sit on. Then they stood on each side of Moses, holding up his hands. So his hands held steady until sunset.  As a result, Joshua overwhelmed the army of Amalek in battle.”

When reading this today, I was just reminded of how appreciative I am of all the people in our church who lift my hands as I pastor our church.  Thank you so much to all of you who have taken on this role.  You, like Aaron, Hur, and Joshua make victory possible.

God’s Growing Process

Day 39: (Exodus 16, Psalms 70-71, Mark 4)

Peter Marshall once opened a session of the United States Senate with this prayer;

Our Father, when we long for life without trials and work, without difficulties, remind us that oaks grow strong in contrary winds and diamonds are made under pressure.  With stout hearts may we see every calamity an opportunity and not give way to the pessimist that see in every opportunity a calamity.”

Both in Exodus 16 and Mark 4 we see that difficulties came upon those following God’s leading.  By a pillar of cloud by day and pillar of fire by night, God led the Israelites into the wilderness.   For the disciples, Jesus told them to get into the boat and cross the lake. 

During their journeys, trouble came that caused them to cry out in fear.  For the Israelites, it was a diminished food supply and for the disciples, it was a great storm.  But it was through these difficulties that God was going to teach each group a lesson in faith.

Faith and trust is not developed when life is smooth, safe, and when we have everything we need.  No, faith is developed and grown in us when we are faced with adversities such as the storms or need.  God knows the process in which we will grow.  We simply need to trust Him.

The Power to Transform

Day 38: (Exodus 15, Psalm 69, Mark 3)

In Exodus 15, we find the Israelites celebrating in praise a great victory that God had given them over the Egyptians.  There is much celebration, dance, and songs of praise.  But three days later, their joy and praise turns to bitter complaints over the fact that their water supply is running low and the water they have just stumbled upon is bitter.

They cry out to Moses and complain about their situation and Moses turns to the Lord in prayer.  Following this, God demonstrates that He has the power to bring transformation.  Exodus 15:25b – “…and the LORD showed him a piece of wood. He threw it into the water, and the water became sweet.”

God answered Moses prayer by providing a piece of wood to make the bitter waters sweet.  God demonstrated that He has the power to transform. 

Let me stop for a moment and highlight something that I find incredible in this passage.  The waters of Marah were bitter.  Perhaps this is a picture of the Israelites lives on the inside.  Perhaps the slavery, bondage, and life in Egypt had caused some of them to become hardened and bitter.  Perhaps their experiences had been a series of hopelessness which had caused them to become bitter.

This first stop on their journey to Canaan illustrated what God wanted to do in their lives.  Transform the bitterness into sweet waters of life.  God has the power to do this.

But notice what he told Moses to do.  Take a piece of wood and throw it in the water.  Do you know what begins the process of transformation in our lives from bitter to sweet?  When we come to the cross.  Jesus died on the cross so that the bitterness and hardness of our lives might be turned sweet.

What areas do you need to allow God to transform in you?

Sharing Jesus With Friends

Day 37: (Exodus 13-14, Psalm 68, Mark 2)

Tomorrow is Super Bowl Sunday.  For many, they will enjoy the game in the company of friends and family who come for a party.  In Mark 2, Jesus is invited to a party.  He is in the process of recruiting those who will become His disciples and He calls a tax collector named Levi.

Mark 2:14b-15 (NLT) says, ”So Levi got up and followed him.  Later, Levi invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. (There were many people of this kind among Jesus’ followers.)”

In Mark 1, we see that those Jesus called left their nets and followed Him.  Here we read that Levi got up from the tax booth and left, but didn’t fully go until he called his friends together for one last farewell party.  This party wasn’t just for his old sinner friends though.  Levi invited Jesus and the new friends he was making.  He must have been so impressed with Jesus that he decided to throw a party so that his friends could meet this man who got his attention and changed his future.

What I like about this is that it teaches us that our life with Jesus should not be separate based on who we are with.  What I mean is, some people have their “Christian” friends and some people have their “non-Christian” friends.  The too rarely if ever meet.  It is like the believer is living two separate lives.  

Levi shows us that when Jesus changes our lives, we do not have to fear inviting others to the party so they can meet Jesus.  Who knows, He may just change their lives too.

Leaving the Nets

Day 36: (Exodus 11-12, Psalms 66-67, Mark 1)

It is so easy to become comfortable and stay with what is familiar.  We have our favorite stores we grocery shop, mechanic that fixes are vehicles, and stylist who cuts our hair.  When we are familiar with something or someplace, it becomes a place of comfort.

When we read the scriptures, particularly those that talk about Jesus calling of the disciples, we see that in order to follow Jesus they had to leave the familiar behind.

Mark 1:17-18 (NLT) says, “Jesus called out to them, ‘Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!’ And they left their nets at once and followed him.”

Mark highlights that they left their nets.  Their nets represented what they did to earn a living. It was part of their identity. They were fisherman.  The nets also represented their income and the familiar tools that brought them success.

If we are to truly follow Jesus, we have to be willing to leave our “nets” behind and trust our future to Him.  We have to leave our old identities, trust Him with our income, and allow Him to show us new tools.  If we are willing, we will find that Jesus will give us greater significance and a greater purpose.

Are you willing to leave your nets to follow Jesus?

On God’s Terms

Day 35: (Exodus 10, Psalms 64-65, Romans 15-16)

Have you ever had to bargain for something?  When I went to El Salvador on a missions trip, the last day we were there we went to a small market area to buy souvenirs.  Before we arrived, we were told by the missionaries that in this culture is was normal to bargain with the people over the prices of their products in order to get the best deal.  I found this difficult and found that I was not very good at it.  One of the missionaries with us came to my rescue and after going back forth with the sellers was able to get me some really good deals. 

In Exodus 10, we see that Pharaoh is trying to bargain with God about his obedience with God’s command to “let the people go.”  In Exodus 10:11 he tells Moses that only the men can go, but not the women and children.  In Exodus 10:24, he was willing to let the women and children go but wanted the people to leave their flocks behind.  But in each situation God was not willing to compromise and Pharaoh faced the consequences.

What we can take away from this is that God does not compromise with us when it comes to obeying Him.  Obedience is non-negotiable.  Why is this?  Because God has already offered us the greatest deal!  It is not that God is stubborn or hard or that He is only looking out for Himself.  Actually it is quite the opposite!  Through Jesus death and the giving of His life, God offers us full forgiveness, freedom, and grace.  Through Jesus we can have the purpose for which we were created renewed and nothing we can do can ever compare.

If Pharaoh would have comprehended the truth about God, he would have let the people go the first time and God would have blessed him for his obedience.  Instead, he faced terrible consequences.  Let’s learn a lesson from Pharaoh.  Let’ obey God on His terms!

God’s Servants

Day 34: (Exodus 9, Psalms 62-63, Romans 13-14)

In Romans 13, Paul uses an interesting title when describing civil authorities.  Romans 13:4 says, “The authorities are God’s servants, sent for your good…”  I think this is a difficult concept for us to grasp.  We can accept the fact that pastors or church leaders are God’s servants and perhaps even parental authorities.  But when it comes to civil authorities, we struggle with this thought.

John Bevere in his book entitled, “Under Cover” writes…

God called those in authority His “servants,” and they are worthy to receive due honor and respect.  I find this burning in my heart every time I see a policeman, fireman, mayor, councilman, governor, state legislator, judge, congressman, or some other branch of government.  I find respect welling up within me when I go to city, state, or federal offices.  They are God’s ministers to serve His people. 1

There can many opinions that differ in regards to those who serve in these offices, none the less, the Bible calls for us to show them honor and respect because they are God’s servants.  Truth be told, when we show those who God has allowed to serve in a place of authority honor and respect, we are actually honoring God. 

 1. Under Cover by John Bevere, Copywright 2001 by Thomas Nelson Publishers, pg. 108.

When Relief Comes…Watch Out!

Day 33: (Exodus 7-8, Psalms 60-61, Romans 12)

One of the qualities that I notice about Pharaoh in the book of Exodus is how stubborn he is.  The Bible goes as far as to say that his heart is hard.  He is making choices that go against what God desires and continues to do so even though God displays His power.

Have you ever found yourself to be like Pharaoh at some point in your life?  You are resisting and hold on to what God is asking you to let go of?  For Pharaoh it was God’s people, but for us it may our talents, time, treasure, or perhaps a relationship or a dream. 

In Pharoah’s situation, God began to make life uncomfortable for him so that he would choose to obey and let go.  I have found that God will allow this happen in my life as well.  When I refuse to obey Him in an area or when I want to hang on when He says let go, I find that He can allow life to get uncomfortable until I am ready to do things His way.

In Exodus 8, the Lord sends the plague of frogs on the Egyptians and Pharoah’s household to get Pharaoh to soften his heart, recognize God’s power, and submit to God’s plan.  And it seems to work.  In verse 8, Pharaoh calls Moses in and asks him to pray so that God will take the frogs away.  In return, he will let the people go. 

But that doesn’t happen….

Exodus 8:15 (NLT) says, “But when Pharaoh saw that relief had come, he became stubborn.  He refused to listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the Lord had predicted.”

When relief came, Pharaoh was back to his old tricks again.  He did not remember the pain of his earlier choices and fell back into his old patterns.  Later, he would reap great consequences as a result of those choices.

If we are wise, we will learn a lesson from Pharaoh.  When the pain of resisting God comes, remember it and allow the change it causes to become permanent.  When relief comes, don’t revert back to old patterns of living.  If you do, there could be even greater consequences.

When It Gets Worse

Day 32: (Exodus 5-6, Psalms 58-59, Romans 10-11)

When you are waiting on God for an answer, sometimes our circumstances get worse before they get better.  In Exodus 5, Moses goes to Pharaoh and tells him to let the enslaved people of Israel go so they can worship the Lord.  He simply did what God had commanded.  But instead of letting the people go, Pharaoh made life more difficult for the people.

Exodus 5:6-9 (NLT) says, That same day Pharaoh sent this order to the Egyptian slave drivers and the Israelite foremen: “Do not supply any more straw for making bricks.  Make the people get it themselves!  But still require them to make the same number of bricks as before.  Don’t reduce the quota.  They are lazy.  That’s why they are crying out, ‘Let us go and offer sacrifices to our God.’  Load them down with more work. Make them sweat! That will teach them to listen to lies!”

Sometimes before God brings an answer to our need, things seem to get worse.  The enemy of souls will press us hard and try to get us to doubt God and His ability to fulfill His promises.  But if we will not lose heart… if we will simply trust, obey, and persevere…; we will find that God will come through.

God’s purpose for waiting to deliver Israel was so that He could display His great power and further build their faith for the journey through the wilderness.  Likewise, God knows the road that is ahead.  Often times His delay prepares us for what we will face in the future.

So if you’re facing a time where things seem to be getting worse instead of better, just trust the Lord.  He is preparing you for the journey ahead and the promise land that He has prepared!

Throw It Down

Day 31: (Exodus 3-4, Psalms 56-57, Romans 9)

In Exodus 3-4, God is calling Moses from the burning bush to represent Him before Pharaoh.  Moses is God’s chosen leader to deliver Israel from slavery.  During this call, Moses keeps making excuses as to why is he is not the one for the job.  Following one of those excuses, God asks Moses to do something that illustrates what can happen if we are willing to obey.

Exodus 4:2-4 (NLT) says, Then the Lord asked him, “What is that in your hand?”  ”A shepherd’s staff,” Moses replied.  “Throw it down on the ground,” the Lord told him. So Moses threw down the staff, and it turned into a snake! Moses jumped back.  Then the Lord told him, “Reach out and grab its tail.” So Moses reached out and grabbed it, and it turned back into a shepherd’s staff in his hand. 

The shepherd’s staff was just an ordinary stick.  It was not anything special and did not have any special abilities until Moses threw it down at God’s command.  The staff illustrates Moses own life.  He was ordinary as long as he was in charge of his life, but if he was willing to lay down and give God control, he would be used to do extraordinary things.

God uses us in our weakness to display His power and glory.  Luke 9:24 (NLT) says, “If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.” 

Did you see what happened when Moses picked up the tail of snake?  It turned back into an ordinary staff.  My life in my hands is ordinary.  But if I let go and throw my life into God’s hands and control, He can do amazing things.

Whose has control of your life?